It’s sniffling, sneezing Valley allergy season … but is your home part of the problem, too?

This time of year brings a welcomed reprieve from the heat, but with that great weather comes high pollen and allergen levels that can wreak havoc on a person’s respiratory system.(Photo: Getty Images)

This time of year brings a welcomed reprieve from the heat, but with that great weather comes high pollen and allergen levels that can wreak havoc on a person’s respiratory system. High particulate matter ratings in Valley air also leave some allergy-sensitive residents reaching for inhalers and catching winter colds more easily than others.

While you can’t control the environment outside, many underestimate the importance of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). If you are sensitive to allergens, your home should be a safe haven from outdoor pollutants. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. There are outdoor pollutants as well as indoor pollutants that can affect your health, says Steve Mason, an HVAC pro and founder of Mason Mechanical in Mesa.

“With regard to the IAQ, there are a few maintenance items that can help the situation. Indoor air factors could be keeping allergy sufferers sick,” Mason says. Here are a few tips for keeping your IAQ above par.

What you’re fighting

Homes today are typically better insulated, more weather tight for efficiency. These tighter homes may also foster an environment that can result in a breeding ground, Mason explains.

“Your home has the potential to breed bacteria, viruses, dust mites, mold spores, as well as allergens and more. All of this can create problems for your respiratory system,” Mason said. “If your body has a sensitivity to certain bacteria and you are getting sick often, your own home may be trapping something inside it that you really need to address. Some EPA estimates indicate the air in our homes may indeed be even more polluted than the outdoor air.”

Filters

The first line of defense when it comes to air quality in your home is the air filter used for your HVAC system. “Cheaper is not better”, Mason says. Thirty-day filters that you can easily see through catch very few contaminants.

When looking for an air filter, “think surface area,” Mason notes. First look for a pleated filter, a standard 1 inch pleated filter is able to capture smaller, airborne particles, because it has more surface area to capture these particles compared to a standard disposable filter. Pleated Filters have thicker options, too, up to three inches, which is 200 percent more area of capture. Even these higher efficiency filters need to be checked every thirty days, Mason adds.

“Beware of buying expensive, high efficient and restrictive filters at your local hardware or home improvement store. These filters may restrict the air flow to your expensive equipment and cause potential repairs or failures. If you are concerned about good filtration, it is best to consult your trusted HVAC provider for help,” Mason added.

Maintenance

A regular twice-a-year maintenance check-up for your heating and cooling system can also help prevent potential IAQ problems. Even a small amount of contaminant build-up on refrigerant coils or other small problems can cause big air quality concerns for those who are sensitive to those contaminants.

One of the greatest advances through the years in IAQ has been the use of duct-mounted whole-home air purifiers. Installed inside your HVAC systems, these purifiers can kill up to 99 percent of airborne viruses and bacteria while keeping the dust in your home to a minimum.

“We’ve studied numerous systems and this technology, which has been around for a while, is only getting better and better. If you want to really kill off harmful pollutants in your HVAC system, a whole home air purifier is one of the best ways to do it,” Mason noted.